Tag Archives: celebrities

One of the greatest actors on the planet was hanging out on Harlem's Restaurant Row last night, July 27. According to Row House's online social network, Meryl Streep and the cast of The Papers, Steven Spielberg's upcoming flick, were dining at their establishment. Here's the picture to prove it! Pretty awesome, don't ya think?

Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the 2015 Oscars, so of course commercials of him have been all over TV — but his latest promo has nothing to do with him handing out those golden trophies to big-time movie stars.

Harris’ newest project is set to be his own NBC variety show, and he gives us a tiny peek in his new ad.

The clip shows Harris, 41, getting ready to perform a big number on a time crunch with lots of dancers behind him.

“I only have 15 second to tell you about my new really big show,” the actor explains. “So I thought instead, why don’t I perform a thrilling number to give you a glimpse of what’s coming. Let’s do it!”

Right before the number begins, someone off stage yells “we’re out of time Neil,” and the commercial ends.

Although the clip doesn’t say too much about his new show, it has been reported that the series will be based on the UK series “Saturday Night Takeaway,” which means musical numbers, comedy sketches, celebrity pranks and A-list guests.

The last time Harlem resident Neil Patrick Harris tweeted out something, he eventually got it, which was a Harlem brownstone. Now he can’t get the wifi service he wants so who does he turn to? Twitter. About a day ago NPH tweets out, Verizon Fios service does not reach his new Harlem brownstone. Apparently the service stops about a block away. That’s weird. Why would Verizon Fios stop close to 125th Street in Central Harlem?

The tweet has been retweeted more than a 100 times. I think Harlem is going to be getting expanded Verizon Fios service soon! Don’t ya think?

Golden Globe, Tony, Academy Award Actor Denzel Washington decided to head uptown this past weekend for some good grub in Harlem. Where did he go? To Harlem restaurant row’sThe Park 112. Not a bad choice, Denzel! We hear he ordered the Brick Chicken and Branzino dish, but no drinks! Hey, when you’re on Broadway performing in Raisin in the Sun, ya gotta eat and drink well.

Let’s not forget that Denzel Washington is familiar with the streets of Harlem. A few years back, he was in Central Harlem filming American Gangster.

Other celebs, models and well-known athletes have made their way up to Harlem to The Park 112 as well, such as Kobe Bryant, Jessica White, and Mekhai Phifer of ER. Again, don’t take our word. Go to their Instagram account! All the evidence is there!

Us New Yorker’s know what happens when celebs descend upon a new Harlem hot spot or any hot NYC spot for that matter. It becomes packed and hard to get it into…right? La Bodega 47, the old Native in Harlem on Lenox Avenue and 118th Street, is about to turn that page.

HarlemGal Inc hears that producer Sidra Smith, twin sister of actress Tasha Smith, is holding a star-studded bash late next week at Harlem’s newest hotspot, La Bodega 47. Word has it that The View host and former Harlemite Sherri Shephard will attend, along with Vivica A. Fox, Tamron Hall, S. Epatha Merkerson, Chef Roblé, Lynn Whitfield, Tyson Beckford, and many more. Ooh-la-la. Of course, this event is invite only and no we are not invited. However, we may stand outside and people watch.

Speaking of turning pages, Harlem’s La Bodega 47 is derived from a new chapter for Brian Washington-Palmer, the La Bodega owner known for successful ventures, like Harlem’s Native, Bleu Evolution and Monkey Room. Washington-Palmer decided to close Native and start completely fresh from top to bottom. The corner venue has been completely transformed into a bodega, decor-wise. My favorite part of the new decor is the hanging photo of what appears to be a Cuban lady smoking a cigar.

As for the name, Washington-Palmer came up with the name La Bodega 47 because his prior Native wait staff would always run to the Bodega across the street on Lenox Ave and 118th for their break. And why add-on the number 47? That’s the number of rums La Bodega 47 offers. Forty-seven of the finest rums from the Diaspora including Guyana, Venezuela, Jamaica, Trinidad, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Brazil, West Indies, as well as local craft brands from New York.

La Bodega 47 in Harlem had its soft launch recently, but is expected to be fully operational in March. If you haven’t checked out La Bodega 47 during its soft launch, go now or go later in March. But ya can’t say we didn’t warn you if the place ends up being packed after next week!

La Bodega 47 is on the corner of Lenox Avenue and 118th Street. Phone is 212-280-4700.

The NY Post says, “Harris [and his partner] just bought a stunning $3.6 million townhouse at 2036 Fifth Ave., between West 125th and 126th streets. The five-story stunner has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and measures a sprawling 8,000 square feet. The sun-filled home includes two terraces, a backyard, chef’s kitchen and lots of space for a playroom and gym. The home is significantly bigger than the couple’s previous home, which was also in Harlem.” View pictures of the actual property here.

Congrats to Harris and his family on their new home. And a nice reminder for the rest of us in Harlem, if you’re rich and famous, you can pretty much get what your little heart desires in Harlem or anywhere in the City.

A HarlemGal reader recently left a comment saying Sherri Shepherd, comedienne, actress, and television personality of ABC’s The View, is not residing in Harlem anymore. My reaction was WHAT! I just saw her online mentioning she’s hanging at the Corner Social in Harlem. So I followed up with the lovely and funny Mrs. Shepherd-Sally to see what’s up.

Shepherd confirmed via direct message on Twitter that she and her family (Lamar and Jeffrey) moved to New Jersey three months ago. But before I explain why Shepherd had to move from Harlem, let me quickly point out that Shepherd unequivocally stated that she and her husband Lamar love Harlem and find it to be “a great community and plan to return in a couple of years.” They had an unexpected situation arise and had to react.

I believe Sherri Shepherd and her family will return in the near future to live full-time in Harlem. Why? As an influential celebrity, she could have easily avoided my request. Shepherd responded in a timely manner and took the time to explain what happened. She was crystal clear in her communication. In my view, this is an example of a Harlemite who deeply cares about the community she lived in and still loves by personally taking the time to communicate what happened. Why even bother explaining to a Harlem blogger? But Sherri did.

As to what happened that caused Sherri, her son and her husband to depart Harlem, it’s a typical New York situation. Shepherd had been renting a beautiful Harlem brownstone for almost three years. Her landlord gave notice that they planned to move back into the property and gave Shepherd 30 days notice. Shepherd and her husband looked at other places in Harlem because they wanted to stay, but given the time constraints they did not find a place they wanted within their budget so they moved to New Jersey for the time being. That’s it folks! That’s what happened and it happens to most New Yorker’s at one time or another.

Shepherd maybe living in NJ for now, but she has been taking the time to return to Harlem weekly. She visits the Corner Social on Lenox Avenue and 126th Street once a week and she visits Elsie’s Caribbean Cafe twice a month. Her heart is still in Harlem.

Let’s wish Sherri Shepherd and her family all the best with this change and pray for a speedy return back to Harlem. Amen!

Neil Patrick Harris, actor, singer and currently a Harlem condo owner, is looking to buy a brownstone in Harlem. How do I know this? Neil Patrick Harris said it on Twitter yesterday tweeting “he’s looking to buy a brownstone in Harlem. Figure someone on Twitter might want to sell. Any takers?”

But why doesn’t Mr. Harris just go to StreetEasy.com? I see several Harlem brownstones there listed for $1.5 million to $3 million, which should be no problem for Neil Patrick Harris. He’s been making the big bucks since he was a child TV actor.

Hope this little blog write-up helps with your search. And by the way Neil, we are from the same state, i.e. New Mexico! Good luck with your search! I hope you find the Harlem brownstone of your dreams!

One can’t swing a bat without hitting the word Harlem. I say that all the time and it’s how I feel again when reading about the upcoming Broadway musical called Motown. I just came across a write-up in Vanity Fair and all I thought about is how this musical has a connection to Harlem.

Based on what I have read so far, Motown: The Broadway Musical will be very good. I will probably go see it. However, I can’t help but repeat myself on how the show obviously has a strong historical connection to Harlem. Most of the music and the artists that will be featured in the new musical, which opens in April, made their debut at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, such as The Jackson 5, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and more.

I am guessing there will be one scene or at least a mention of Harlem in the show. We’ll find out soon since previews of Motown: The Broadway Musical begins March 11 and opening night is April 14.

See below the two stars of Motown: The Broadway Musical perform inside the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle or check out the musical on Instagram. They have very cool photos posted.

Walking along Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem tonight, I noticed a bunch of TV cameras inside and outside Harlem Food Bar, which is on FDB between 113th and 114th Street. This is the scoop. VH1 is at Harlem Food Bar this evening taping the Love & Hip Hop reality show.